Join me

Join me on this journey

Individuals who wish to join this journey for a week to a month or potentially more are welcome, provided they adopt the spirit of this endeavor and provide for their own ressources as specified below.

Planning

You need to plan your arrival with me as soon as possible since I can only host 3 persons maximum or else need to plan for additional equipment. In the planning stages issues such as permits, legal documents, and food will be addressed based on where, when and how you plan to join the journey. Use the LongEars2Chile@gmail.com address and beware that I only pick up mail when I meet WIFI hot spots on the journey (possibly up to a month once the journey begins).

Equipment & costs

You need to provide adequate personal equipment based on the season and duration you plan to join the journey (see my list of things and reduce according to season). The donkeys will carry ONLY 5 KILO per person of personal gear since they will have to carry another 5 Kilo of food stuff for you per week. Plan to have a backpack for any extra stuff and limit that to 5 kilo maximum. GOOD hicking boots are a must.

Remember, when you join us, you will be “green” while we will have adopted a pace and built up our stamina to travel at a good pace.

What you agree to when joining the journey:

• That I will reject and refuse any person at the meeting point who comes with equipment that I esteem puts their health (thus ours) in danger.
• That you agree to NO TRACE CAMPING and to RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT (any supplies that put the environment in danger will be returned to civilization and thrown out when you arrive).

• That you are responsible for any health, insurance, third party insurance, emergency repatriation costs and any other liabilities that may occur out of your decision to join this journey or as a consequence to your behaviour.
• That you give up all rights to all pictures or any recording of your participation to me personally (your own production is yours but cannot be sold, you will sign a document to this effect).
• That you will contribute $15 per day of stay for the costs incurred in organizing, sustaining and managing the journey. The full amount to be paid in advance or at latest the day of joining the journey. This amount is non refundable regadless of events.
• That you will contribute your share of food expenses as I calculate them based on the cost of purchases during your stay (expect $5 to $10 per day). Food will be very basic, simple and you agree to do with what is provided as regular fare (probably mainly vegetarian but will discuss your eating habits with you prior).
• AND MOST IMPORTANT, decisions I make during the journey are final, to be accepted immediately upon request regarless of your opinion. Obviously this may seem extreme but I have lived enough situations where danger that appears evident for me is not for others. This has lead me to impose these RULES on any trip I manage.

As I re-read this section I wonder if YOU, reading this, can perceive that nothing is “out of line” but just basic good sense when accepting persons that must understand prior to joining such a journey that the realities of the trail are not the comfort of our socialized welfare society. Also I have prior commitments to sponsors, donors, official organizations and my team (the donkeys and other hikers) that need to be respected with you present.

I recommend walking 1hr a day for a month prior to joining us and being in good health. Young persons that believed they were in top shape have joined trips I've done and almost given up after a week finding it too physically demanding. As a companion on the canoe trip in 2011 said “ for a 61 yr old man, your pretty strong” … a compliment I appreciated. I'll take care of you, but come prepared to live another life style.

My engagement to you is that I'll make every effort to make this period with us a memorable and an enjoyable experience.

To sum up: good shoes, warm and dry clothes including head gear, sleeping bag & matress, and number of days X around $20 for your share.